Eurystheus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Eurystheus

38 passages from 10 ancient authors that tell of Eurystheus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. In Greek mythology, Eurystheus was the king of Tiryns, a stronghold near Mycenae. He was the son of Sthenelus and Nicippe, grandson of Perseus. Hera ... For the story in one place, read our article on Eurystheus.

Hesiod (1)

Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 75–149Heracles and Iolaus arm for battle (75-149)Heracles tells his charioteer Iolaus how Amphitryon came to Thebes after killing Electryon over oxen, and how Iolaus's father lost his senses through Zeus and went to serve the wicked Eurystheus. He bids Iolaus drive straight at Ares, who is raging in Apollo's grove, and Iolaus answers with encouragement. Heracles then arms himself with greaves from Hephaestus, a breastplate from Athena, a quiver, a spear and a helm, and takes up the shield, which has Fear in adamant at its centre with Strife above his brow.

Homer (2)

Homer, Iliad 8.350–484Zeus turns back Hera and AthenaHera and Athena set out to help the Achaeans, but Zeus sends Iris to turn them back with the threat of lamed horses and a shattered car. Zeus returns to Olympus and tells the two goddesses that at dawn he will destroy more of the Argives and that Hector will not stop fighting until Achilles rises at the ships over the body of Patroclus. Hera refuses to be rebuked and says that she will not oppose him.
Homer, Iliad 19.74–153Achilles ends his wrath; Agamemnon's speech on AteAchilles calls an assembly, and even those who had stayed in the camp come, last of all the wounded Agamemnon. Achilles says that the quarrel over the girl has brought no good to anyone, declares that he ends his wrath, and bids the Achaeans arm. Agamemnon says that Ate, the eldest daughter of Zeus, blinded him, as she once blinded Zeus himself when Hera tricked him over the birth of Heracles, and he offers the promised gifts.

Apollodorus (6)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.5.1–6The Labours of Heracles (1-6): the Nemean Lion to the Stymphalian BirdsHeracles goes to Tiryns and serves Eurystheus, who sets him labours. He strangles the Nemean lion, kills the Lernaean hydra with Iolaus's help, takes the Cerynitian hind alive, and captures the Erymanthian boar after the fight with the centaurs at Pholus's cave, in which Chiron is wounded. He then cleans the stables of Augeas by diverting two rivers, and scares off the Stymphalian birds with Athena's castanets. Eurystheus refuses to count the hydra and the stables, because Iolaus helped and Augeas paid a wage.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.8.1–5The return of the HeraclidsAfter Heracles' death his sons flee from Eurystheus to Athens, where Eurystheus is killed by Hyllus and Alcmena gouges out the eyes of his severed head. The Heraclids retake the Peloponnese but are driven out by a plague, and Hyllus and Aristomachus are defeated when they misread the oracle about 'the third crop'. Temenus and the sons of Aristodemus finally conquer it with Oxylus as their 'three-eyed' guide, draw lots for Argos, Lacedaemon and Messene (Cresphontes cheats with a clod of earth), and the section closes with the murder of Temenus and the revenge of Aepytus in Messene.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.5.7–10The Labours of Heracles (7-10): the Cretan Bull to Geryon's CattleHeracles brings the Cretan bull to Mycenae and takes the man-eating mares of Diomedes of Thrace, founding Abdera. For the belt of Hippolyte he sails to the Amazons, kills her after Hera stirs up trouble, and on the way home saves Hesione from the sea monster at Troy, which Laomedon will not pay for. For the tenth labour he crosses to Erytheia, kills Geryon and his herdsman and dog, and drives the cattle home through Italy and Sicily, wrestling Eryx and enduring Hera's gadfly.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.5.11–12The Labours of Heracles (11-12): the Golden Apples and CerberusBecause the hydra and the stables are not counted, two more labours are added. For the golden apples of the Hesperides Heracles seizes Nereus to learn the way, defeats Antaeus and Busiris, frees Prometheus from the eagle, and gets the apples by tricking Atlas into taking the sky back. He is initiated at Eleusis, goes down to Hades by Taenarum, raises Theseus (but not Pirithous), wrestles Menoetes, and carries Cerberus up to Eurystheus and back.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.4.1–5Perseus: Danae, Medusa and AndromedaAn oracle tells Acrisius that his daughter's son will kill him, so he shuts Danae in a brazen chamber, but she bears Perseus to Zeus and is cast into the sea with him in a chest. On Seriphus, Polydectes sends Perseus to fetch the Gorgon's head; with help from Hermes and Athena he gets the nymphs' gear from the Phorcides and beheads Medusa, from whom Pegasus and Chrysaor spring. He rescues Andromeda from a sea monster, turns Polydectes to stone, and accidentally kills Acrisius with a discus at Larissa, so fulfilling the oracle. The section ends with Perseus's descendants and the birth of Eurystheus.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.4.6–12Amphitryon, Alcmene and the youth of HeraclesElectryon's sons are killed in a cattle raid by the Taphians, and Amphitryon accidentally kills Electryon and takes refuge at Thebes, where he wins the Teleboan war with the help of Cephalus's dog. Zeus lies with Alcmene in Amphitryon's likeness and she bears Heracles and Iphicles; the infant Heracles strangles the serpents Hera sends. Heracles is taught by several masters, kills the lion of Cithaeron after fathering children by Thespius's fifty daughters, and defeats the Minyans of Erginus. Hera then drives him mad and he kills his children, and the Pythia at Delphi names him Heracles and sends him to serve Eurystheus.

Pindar (1)

Pindar, Olympian Odes 3.1–45Olympian 3: for Theron — Heracles and the olive treePindar prays to the Dioscuri and to Helen as he honours Theron of Acragas, victor in the chariot race, and links his crown to the olive of Olympia. He tells how Heracles, who had set up the games, brought the olive from the land of the Hyperboreans and the Ister to shade the bare precinct of Pelops, after chasing the golden-horned hind for Eurystheus. He ends by saying that Theron's prowess has reached the pillars of Heracles, beyond which none can go.

Euripides (16)

Euripides, Heracles 922–1015Messenger speech: Heracles murders his wife and childrenA Messenger tells how Heracles had killed Lycus and was purifying the house with victims set before the altar of Zeus, when his mind turned and he began to behave as if he were out of his senses. He took his children for those of Eurystheus, and killed one with his bow and another with his club, and laid low his wife and another child with one shaft, and the Messenger tells how a phantom of Pallas hurled a rock at his breast, and stopped him and plunged him into sleep.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 799–866Messenger speech: the battle and the capture of EurystheusThe servant describes how the two armies drew up in line, how Hyllus offered to fight Eurystheus in single combat and Eurystheus shrank from it, and how the battle began and the Athenians at last turned the Argives to flight. Iolaus, who took up Hyllus into his chariot and, on the hill of Pallene, prayed to Hebe and to Zeus to be young again for a day, caught up with Eurystheus' chariot and bound him.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 1–54Prologue: Iolaus and the children of Heracles at the altar in AthensIolaus says that the just man lives for his neighbours, while the selfish are of no use to others, and tells how he, who was the companion of Heracles in his labours, now looks after Heracles' children. He tells that Eurystheus, who persecuted Heracles in life, now drives his children from land to land, and that they have come to Marathon in the land of Athens, where the herald of Eurystheus follows them. The herald arrives, and Iolaus curses him.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 427–473Second episode: Iolaus offers himself in the children's placeIolaus says that they are like sailors who have escaped one storm to meet another, and that there is no hope. He offers himself to Eurystheus, asking only that the children should be spared, but Demophon says that this is not possible, since Eurystheus wants the children and not him. The Chorus says that Athens must not be blamed, and Demophon asks Iolaus for any other plan.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 867–927Fourth choral song; Alcmena rejoicesThe Chorus prays to Zeus and sees the day that frees them from fear, and Alcmena thanks Zeus for his favour. She asks why Iolaus spared Eurystheus, and the servant tells her that he was brought alive so that she could see him humbled, and asks to be set free. The Chorus sings of the dance and of the justice of the city, and of Heracles, who now lives in heaven as the husband of Hebe.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 120–180First episode: Copreus claims the exiles for EurystheusDemophon asks who has been wreathing the altar, and the Chorus tells him that the sons of Heracles sit there as suppliants. Copreus declares that he is an Argive, sent by Eurystheus to take back his own subjects, who have been condemned by their city. He says that Demophon has no right to protect them and warns that Argos will go to war, and he offers the friendship of Argos.
Euripides, Heracles 610–636Second episode: Heracles tells of his return from HadesAmphitryon asks whether it is true that Heracles went to the house of Hades, and whether the monster is lodged in the house of Eurystheus, who does not know that he has returned. Heracles says that he stayed to try to bring Theseus back from Hades, and that Theseus has gone to Athens. He tells the children to come into the house with him, and says that all men love their children.
Euripides, Alcestis 476–506Third episode: Heracles arrives on his way to ThraceHeracles asks the Chorus whether Admetus is at home, and the Chorus tells him that he is. Heracles says that he is on his way to Thrace to take the horses of Diomedes for Eurystheus, and the Chorus warns him of the man-eating horses and their master, a son of Ares. Heracles answers that no one will ever see him tremble before a foe.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 55–83Copreus tries to drag the children from the altarThe herald Copreus tells Iolaus that he is a fool to sit at an altar as a suppliant when he will be taken by force and stoned, but Iolaus answers that the god's altar and the free land of Athens will protect him. Copreus seizes the children, and Iolaus calls for help from the people of Athens, whereupon the Chorus enters, wondering at the cry heard at the altar.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 84–119Iolaus tells the Chorus who the children are; Demophon arrivesIolaus tells the Chorus that he is from Mycenae and that the children are the sons of Heracles, and Copreus says that Iolaus and the children are subjects of Eurystheus, who have a right over them. The Chorus says that he should have addressed the king of the land and not have used force at the altar, and Demophon, with his brother Acamas, comes in haste.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 236–287First episode: Demophon refuses to give up the suppliantsDemophon gives three reasons for helping the suppliants: they are at the altar of Zeus, they are kinsmen, and it would be shameful to see the free city's altar seized by force. Copreus threatens the city with war, and Demophon answers that he is not afraid of Argos, and sends him away, saying that he will not let him drag the suppliants off by force.
Euripides, Children of Heracles 381–426Second episode: the oracle demands a noble maidenDemophon returns and tells Iolaus that the Argive army has come with Eurystheus, and that the seers have said that Athens will win the war if a noble maiden of a noble house is sacrificed to the daughter of Demeter. He says that he cannot kill his own child or ask any citizen to give up his, and that the suppliants must find some way to save themselves. The Chorus asks whether heaven forbids the city to help strangers.

4 more passages of Euripides that name Eurystheus

Apollonius Rhodius (1)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.1261–1362Heracles and Polyphemus are left behindHeracles searches wildly for Hylas, and at dawn Argo sails on without him and Polyphemus. Telamon accuses Jason of leaving Heracles behind on purpose, until the sea-god Glaucus rises from the waves and declares what Zeus has fated for Heracles and for Polyphemus. Telamon and Jason are reconciled.

Theocritus (1)

Theocritus, Idylls 25.138–281Idyll 25: Phaethon the bull and the Nemean lionThe great bull Phaethon charges at Heracles, who seizes him by the left horn and forces his neck to the ground, to the wonder of Augeas and Phyleus. On the road to the city Phyleus asks about the lion whose hide Heracles wears, and Heracles tells how Eurystheus set him the task, how he killed the Nemean lion with his bare hands, and how he flayed it with its own claws.

Diodorus Siculus (7)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.57.1–4.58.8The HeracleidaeEurystheus, fearing the sons of Heracles, has them driven from Trachis; the Athenians alone take them in, and with Iolaüs, Theseus and Hyllus they defeat Eurystheus, who is killed by Hyllus. The Heracleidae then attack the Peloponnese, but Hyllus is killed in single combat by Echemus and they retreat for fifty years; Tlepolemus, driven from Argos for a killing, founds three cities on Rhodes.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.8.1–4.10.7Heracles: birth and early deedsThe historian begins with the difficulty of reporting Heracles' deeds worthily and with the claim that myth should not be scrutinised too sharply. He traces the hero's descent from Perseus and Zeus, tells how Hera delays the birth of Heracles so that Eurystheus is born first, and how Heracles as a baby strangles the two serpents she sends. As a young man he frees Thebes from the tribute owed to Erginus king of the Minyans, kills Erginus, burns the palace of the Minyans and razes the city of the Orchomenians, and marries Megara, daughter of Creon.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.11.1–4.13.4Heracles' labours I: the first sevenHera sends a frenzy on Heracles, and in it he shoots his children by Megara; when he recovers he goes to serve Eurystheus. The chapters give the labours of the Nemean lion, the Lernaean hydra, the Erymanthian boar (with the fight against the Centaurs at the cave of Pholus), the golden-horned hind, the Stymphalian birds, the stables of Augeas, and the Cretan bull.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.14.1–4.16.4Heracles: the Olympic Games, the Giants and the AmazonsAfter the stables Heracles founds the Olympic Games and receives gifts from the gods. He fights on the side of the gods against the Giants at Pallene, frees Prometheus by shooting the eagle, and brings Eurystheus the man-eating horses of Diomedes. He then sails to the Pontus for the girdle of Hippolyte and defeats the Amazons.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.17.1–4.21.7Heracles and the cattle of GeryonesFor his tenth labour Heracles gathers an army and sails from Crete, which he first clears of wild beasts. In Libya he kills Antaeus, in Egypt Busiris, and he sets up the Pillars at the western ocean. He then crosses Celtica, where he founds Alesia, and the Alps, passes the Ligurians, and camps on the Tiber where Rome later stands.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.25.1–4.27.5Heracles: Hades, Orpheus and the HesperidesHeracles is initiated at Athens in the Eleusinian Mysteries, and the historian digresses briefly on Orpheus. Heracles then descends to Hades, where Persephone welcomes him, and brings back Cerberus. For the last labour, the golden apples of the Hesperides, writers disagree about whether the prize was apples or golden-coloured sheep; the section also gives the story of Atlas and the Atlantides, whom Heracles rescues from pirates sent by Busiris, and Atlas's teaching him astronomy.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.36.1–4.39.4The death of HeraclesHeracles takes the field with the Calydonians against the Thesprotians and, after he kills a serving boy by accident, goes into exile with Deïaneira. At the river Euenus the centaur Nessus attacks her; dying, he gives her a charm, and years later she uses it on a robe to win Heracles back from Iole. The robe consumes Heracles, who has himself burned on a pyre on Mount Oeta; the section closes with the honours paid to him as hero and god.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.273–321Alcmene and GalanthisEurystheus still pursues the sons of Heracles (Hercules), and Alcmene, his aged mother, tells Iole of the difficulty of his birth, which Hera (Juno) tried to hinder by having Lucina (Eileithyia) sit with her hands clasped before the door. Galanthis, her maid, deceived the goddess by crying that the child was born, and Lucina, in surprise, let go. Galanthis, laughing at the goddess, was turned into a weasel.

Pausanias (2)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.32.1–7Attica: the mountains and the plain of MarathonPausanias names the mountains of Attica, Pentelicus, Parnes and Hymettus, with their images and altars of Zeus and the honey of Hymettus. At Marathon he describes the graves of the Athenians, the Plataeans and the slaves, the tomb of Miltiades, the nightly sounds of battle, the hero Echetlaeus, the trophy, the spring Macaria and the legend of the children of Hercules, the marsh, the mangers of Artaphernes’ horses and the grotto of Pan.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.44.1–10Megara to the Isthmus: Nisaea, Pagae and the Sciron roadPausanias notes the grave of Orsippus, the sanctuary of Tutelary Apollo, the old gymnasium and the port of Nisaea with the tomb of Lelex. He describes Pagae, with its Saviour Artemis and the shrine of Aegialeus, and Aegosthena, with the sanctuary of Melampus and the tomb of Autonoe. The Sciron road leads past the Molurian rock, with the story of Ino and Melicertes, the rocks of Sciron, the temple of Zeus the Hurler and the tomb of Eurystheus, to the border with Corinth.